Abrading machine



Feb. 21, 1939. A N. EMMONS ABRADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Feb, 21, 1939. A, N EMMONS 2,148,061

ABRADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BY 1" WM Ewm ATTORNEY5.

Patented Feb. 21, 1 939 UNITED STATES ABBADING mom Arthur N. Emmons, Nedrow, N. Y., assignor to The Porter-Cable Machine Company Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 7,,1936, Serial No. i04,496

8 Claims.

This invention relates to abrading machines of the type particularly adapted for finishing floors and like surfaces, and has as its object a particularly compact, stable and well balanced construc tion whereby the machine is operated with minimum effort.

The machine further. includes motion transmitting means between the motor and the abrading drum providing a plurality of speeds of operation, and being of particularly simple construction, whereby the speed of operation may be quickly and conveniently changed."

The structure further includes a guard or hous-' ing for the power operated parts of the machine which, when in closed position, adds to the attractiveness of the machine, and which is conveniently manipulated into open or closed position.

The machine is also provided with a suction system for collecting the dust created by the abrading drum and with means conveniently operated, whereby" the inlet of the dust collecting duct may be closed off from the suction fan, and a suction hose attached to the machine for use in collecting dust created during the operation of the machine, and which has collected in places where it can not be removed by the machine, or dust resulting from the operation of hand ma-v nipulated finishing machines used around the border of the floor.

The structure of the machine also includes a particularly simple and efflcient means for mounting the motor and permitting adjustment of the same, and if desired the motor may be conveniently removed from the machine in order to facilitate the handling of the same.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is machine. 7

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the abrading machine shown in Figure 1, with the guards for the abrading drum and motion transmitting means in open position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine with the guard for the motion transmitting means removed, and the motor being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the machine with the carriage in section.

a perspective view of the abrading I and said member being provided with means to Figure 5 is a'fragmentary, sectional view taken on lines 5-5, Figure 4.

The invention, as a whole, comprises a drum type abrading machine including a frame provided with wheels or rollers forrunning on the 5 surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled on the forward end of the frame, a suction fan journalled in the rear portionof the frame, ;the upper surface or top side of the frame being concave between the abrading drum and the suction fan, with the concavity extending transversely of the frame, a motor mounted on the frame in said concavity and being pivotally connected to the frame at one side of the concavity, and being provided with means cooperablewith the frame at the opposite side of the concavity for effecting adjustment of the motor toward and from the bottom of the concavity, motion transmitting means connecting the motor with the drum and the suction fan and a guard member pivoted to the side of the frame and being movable about the pivot toward the motor to completely enclose or house the motion transmitting means.

The machine further includes a dust collecting duct having an inlet arranged adjacent the rear side of the abrading drum and extending to the inlet side of the suction fan, a member operable to close off the inlet of the duct from the fan,

effect attachment of a suction hose to the duct.

As here shown, the frame of the machine includes a truck l0 and a carriage of substantially box formation, having a top and depending sides H, I 2. The truck is of the type disclosed in my 35 Patent No. 1,998,417, granted April 16, 1935, the truck-being substantiallyN shaped with the forwardly extending branches l3 provided with rollers l4, and the rear leg with a swivelled roller l 5. The rollers l4, l5, are providedto run on the floor or surface being finished. Adjacent the joinder of the branches l3 with the leg of the Y formation, the truck is provided with upwardly extending posts l6 which are provided at their upper ends with apertures to receive a pivot rod I1 extendingthrough the depending sides ll, l2 of the carriage. The rear leg of the truck I 0 is provided with an extension 20 extending upwardly and rearwardly, to which the lower end of the handle 2| is attached. A lever 22 is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the handle 2|, and is connected to a rod 23, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the rear portion of the carriage, all whereby upon operation'of the lever 2'2 the carriage is tilted on the truck about the 2 pivot rod l1 to bring the abrading drum into and out of contact with the surface being finished. The carriage tilting mechanism is shown and de-- scribed in .detail in my Patent No.',1,974,136, issued September 18, 1934.

The top side or surface of the frame or carriage is formed with a recess 25. As here shown, the recess is concave and extends transversely across the carriage. The forward end of the carriage is provided with a ledge 26 to which the terminating below the axis of the drum 2!], and' with a lengthwise extending duct having an inlet arranged adjacent the rear sides of the drum 29 and consisting, in this instance, of a detachable pan 32. The rear portion of the duct communicates with a suction fan. As here shown, the inlet end 33 of the duct extends lengthwise of the carriage and communicates with a transversely extending passage 35 arranged in the rear portion of the carriage. The suction fan 36 is journalled in the depending side |2 of the carriage and is arranged coaxial with the passage 35. That is, the inlet of the fan 36 communicates with the passage 35, whereby upon operation of the fan 36 the dust created by the operation of the drum 261s drawn through the inlet portion 33 of the duct and thence through the passage 25, through the fan, and is discharged thereby through an opening extending through the top of the carriage. The shaft 31 of the fan is Joumalled in a detachable plate 38 secured to the side |2, as by screws 38. The shaft 31 extends outwardly through the plate 38, and a pulley 40 is secured to the shaft and operatively connected to a pulley 4| on the motor 42 by a belt 43. The belt 43 is maintained at all times under proper tension by an idler pulley 44 rotatably mounted upon the end of the bracket 45, the opposite end of which is rotatably mounted upon the hub 46 of the plate 33. The idler pulley 44 is maintained in contact with the belt 43 by means of a tension spring 41, one end of which is secured to the plate 38, and the opposite end to the bracket 45. A support 48 is mounted on the rear of the carriage over the fan outlet, and supports a tube 49, to the upper end of which is detachably secured a dust collecting bag 50.

The structure thus described constitutes generally the conventional dust collecting systems employed with machines of this type and operates to draw the dust created by the drum 29 through the duct passages 33, 35, tube 49, and deposit the dust in the bag 56. There are instances where the dust collecting system does not collect all of the dust created by the operation of the abrasive drum, and also it is usually necessary to finish corners and borders of floors by a small hand manipulated abrading machine. These small machines are often not equipped with a dust collecting system, with the result that it is necessary to go over the floor with a vacuum cleaner, or other similar device, in order to remove the dust preparatory to finishing the floor. In the present machine, I incorporate means whereby a flexible suction hose may be readily and conveniently attached to the suction fan 36 and employed to collect and remove any dust remaining on the floor after the abrading operations. Y

As here shown, a cylindrical valve or shutter member 54 is rotatably mounted in the passage 35, and is provided in one side with a cut out portion 55 arranged, upon rotation of the shutter 54, to come into alinement or register with the duct 33. The outer end of the shutter 54 is provided with a wall 51 formed with a central aperture 58 surrounded by an outwardly extending annular flange 59 to receive one end of a suction hose 60. A detachable closure is provided for the aperture 58 in the nature of a plug 6| to close the aperture when the hose 60 is not being used, and the outer end of the shutter 54 is provided with bosses 62, so that the shutter may be conveniently rotated.

In Figure 5, the shutter 54 is shown in the open position, that is, with the duct 33 in communication with the passage 35 and fan 36. In this position, the dust created by the abrading drum 36 is drawn through the duct 33, passage 35, fan 36, and discharged into the dust collecting bag 45.

Upon partial rotation of the shutter 54, the duct 33 is disconnected or closed off from the passage 35. The plug 6| may be then removed from the aperture 56, and the suction hose 66 secured over the flange 59.

In order to produce a perfect finish with the drum type of abrading machine, it is essential that there be no tipping or wobbling of the machine, or the frame thereof, as this causes the drum to cut more on one end than on the other, with the result that waves or depressions are produced in the finished surface. The abrading drum consumes an appreciable amount of power and accordingly, it is necessary to equip the machines with motors of appreciable size. The motors of larger size run into considerable weight and when mounted any great distance above the rollers of the frame, the machine has a tendency to tip or rock sidewise because of the high center of gravity.

In the machine described herein, the motor 42 is mounted in the recess or concavity 25. That is, it is mounted on the carriage or frame with the housing of the motor depending in the recess. As here shown, the motor housing is provided with an outwardly extending boss 64 and the rear portion of the top of the carriage is provided with a pair of upwardly extending spaced apart bosses 65. The bosses 64, 65, are provided with alined apertures to receive a pivot pin 66, one end of which is provided with a knurled handle 61. The opposite side of the motor housing is provided with an outwardly extending rib 69 which rests upon a block 16 provided with a threaded aperture to receive the screw 1|, the lower end of which coacts with the forward end of the frame or ledge 26.

With this structure, the motor 42 may be adjusted vertically toward and from the bottom of the concavity 25 by manipulating the adjustment screw 1|. As here shown, the abrading drum pulley 30 is provided with a plurality of steps, and the motor pulley 4| is likewise provided with complemental steps, whereby the belt 12 may be shifted from one set of steps to the other to effect a different operating speed for the abrading drum 29. The change of speed, or the shifting of the belt 12 is quickly and conveniently accomplished by moving the motor 42 about the pivot 88, and the proper tension is obtained on the belt 12 by adjusting the screw Any movement of the motor 42 about the pivot 82 is compensated in connection with the fan belt42 by the idler pulley 44. The particular mounting of .the motor 42 described is also particularly advantageous in that the motor may be conveniently removed from the machine. ported from one building to another, and the larger sizes of the machine, because of their appreciable weight, are diillcult to handle and particularly-so where the machines are carried up a flight of stairs from one floor to another. Inasmuch as the motor constitutes a major portion of the weight of the machine, the removal of the motor permits the machine to be handled more easily and conveniently. To-remove the motor 42, it is only necessary to withdraw the pin 66 from the bosses 64, 65, the bosses or ribs 84, 69 then serve as handles by which the motor 42 may be conveniently handled.

In order to offset the weight of the pulleys 38, 48, 4|, 69, belts 42, 68, 'all ofwhich extend beyond the side |2 of the carriage, and in order to render the machine of proper balance and stability, the armature 15 and field 16 of the motor are ar.- ranged in the motor housing to one side of the longitudinal axis of the machine. That is, the motor armature and field are arranged toward the side ll of the machine. This arrangement, together with the fact that the center of gravity of the machine is lowered by the mounting of the motor 42 in the concavity 25, gives the machine maximum stability during operation and prevents any tilting of the abrading drum 29 in a horizontal plane. This results in making the machine extremely easy to manipulate and produces a smooth, even finish to the floor, or other surface.

88 designates a guard or housing for the pulleys and belts associated with the motor, abrading drum and fan. The guard 88 is of general triangular form and provided with an annular flange 8|. The lower edge of the side |2 of the carriage is formed or provided with a pair of spaced apart outwardly extending bosses 82, and the base of the guard 88 is provided with complemental bosses 83 which are pivotally mounted upon the bosses 82 on a rod 84, whereby the top of the guard is movable toward and from the motor 42. The guard is provided at one side with a recess 85 to receive the outer end of motor pulley 4|, and pulleys 48, 44 associated with the fan 38. The guard 88 is held in closed position, as illustrated in Figure 1, by means of a screw 86 threading into an aperture 81 in the side wall |2 of the carriage. In order to prevent any rattle of the guard 88 during operation of the machine, a compression spring 81 is mounted on the rod 84 and abuts at one end against one of the bosses 82, and at the other end against one of the bosses 83, the bosses 83 of the guard being arranged on like sides of the bosses 82 of the side l2.

A guard 88 is pivoted at its upper end to the drum supporting bracket 21, and is provided at its lower end with a bumper 89 of rubber, or other resilient material, and the guard 88 is provided with side members 98 to enclose the projecting ends of the abrading drum 29. During the changing of the abrasive material on the drum 29, the guard 88 is held in elevated position Figure 2, by means of a spring clip 9|. It will be observed from Figure 1, that the guards 88, 88 are so designed as to add to the attractiveness of the machine and at the same time the guards are con- These abrading machines are trans-' zenien'tly manipulated to open and closed posiions.

The motor housing is equipped with a suitableswitch 92 to which the power cable 98 is connected. v

It will be apparent that the machine described is well balanced, and has an exceptionally low center of gravity which efiects eflicient operation and requires a minimum amount of effort on the part of the operator to properly manipulate the machine. Also, the power operated parts of the machine are completely enclosed in such a manner as to add to the attractiveness of the machine, and at the same timesuch parts are conveniently accessible for adjustment. If a different speed of operation is desired, it is only necessary to loosen the screws 88, permitting the guard 88 to move into open position, adjust the screw 'II to lower the motor in the recess 25, and the belt 12 may be then shifted from one step to another on the pulleys 38, 4|. The screw II is then adjusted to obtain the proper tension of the belt, and the guard 88 secured in closed position.

What I claim is:

1. In an abrading machine, a frame provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled on the forward end of the frame, said frame being product and being provided with means for attachment to a suction hose, said member being movable to close off the inlet of the. duct from the fan to permit use of the suction hose, a motor mounted on the frame, and motion transmitting means between the motor and said drum and fan. a

2. An abrading machine comprising a frame provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled on the forward end of the frame, said frame being provided with a dust collecting duct comprising a passage having an inlet arranged adjacent the rear side of said drum and extending lengthwise of said frame, and a passage extending transversely in the rear portion of the frame and communicating with said lengthwise extending pasarranged in the opposite end of said passage and being provided with an aperture to receive a suction hose, a detachable closure for said aperture, said member being movable to closejofi said lengthwise extending passage from said transverse passage to permit ,use of the suction hose, a motor mounted on the frame, and motion transmitting means between the motor and said drum.

3. An abrading machine comprising a truck provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, a carriage pivoted between its ends to said truck, with the axis of the pivot extending transversely of the truck and carriage, an abrading drum journalled on the forward end .of the carriage, said carriage being provided with a dust collecting duct comprising a transversely extending cylindrical passage formed in the rear portion of the carriage and a lengthwise extending passage communicating therewith, and having an inlet arranged adjacent the rear side of said drum, a suction fan journalled in one side of the carriage in communication with one end of said transverse passage, a cylindrical shutter member rotatably mounted in the opposite end of said passage and being provided with an outer end wall having an aperture to receive a suction hose, a detachable closure for said aperture, said shutter member being rotatable to close of! said lengthwise extending passage to permit the use of a suction hose, 2. motor mounted on the carriage, and motion transmitting means between the motor and said drum and fan.

4. An abrading machine comprising a frame provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled to the forward end of the frame, and a vacuum fan journalled in the rear portion of the frame, a motor mounted on the top of the frame, and motion transmitting means arranged on the side 'of the frame and connecting the motor with said drum and said fan, a one piece housing pivoted on the side of the frame adjacent the bottom thereof and being movable about said pivot to enclose said motion transmitting means, and means for detachably holding said housing in closed position,

5. An abrading machine comprising a frame provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled on the forward end of the frame, a suction fan joumalled in the rear portion of said frame and communicating with a dust collecting duct having an inlet arranged adjacent the rear side of said drum, a motor mounted on the frame, motion transmitting means arranged on one side of the frame and connecting said motor with said drum and said fan, and a triangular shaped 1 housing pivoted at its base to the side of the frame and being movable about said pivot toward the side of the frame to enclose said motion transmitting means, and means detachably securing said housing against the side of the frame.

6. An abrading machine comprising a frame, a bracket detachably secured to the forward end of the frame, an abrading drum journalled in Patent No. 2,1li3,o61..

said bracket, a housing pivoted at its upper end to said bracket and being movable about said pivot to enclose the top and forward side of said drum, a motor mounted on the frame, and motion transmitting means connecting the motor and said drum.

7. In an abradingmachi'ne, a frame provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled on the front end of the frame and extending transversely thereof, the top side of said frame being formed with a concavity extending transversely of the frame, said frame being also formed with a suction duct extending axially of the frame below said concavity, a motor arranged in said concavity and being pivotally mounted on the frame at one side of said concavity, said motor being provided with means cooperable with the frame on the opposite side of said concavity for moving the motor about said pivot, and motion transmitting means between said motor and the abrading drum.

8. In an abrading machine, a frame provided with wheels for running on the surface being finished, an abrading drum journalled on the forward end of the frame and extending transversely thereof, the top side of said frame being formed with a concavity,extending transversely of the frame, said frame being also formed with a dust collecting duct extending axially of the frame below said concavity, a motor arranged in said concavity and being provided with axially extending ribs on its periphery, a removable pivot pin connecting one of said motor ribs to the frame at one side of said concavity, and means carried by said other rib and cooperable with the frame at the opposite side of said concavity for adjusting the motor about said pivot pin, said ribs being arranged to constitute handles for mounting and removing said motor, and motion transmitting means between said motor and said drum.

ARTHUR N. EMMONS.

February 21, 1959.

, ARTHUR N. EMM NSu It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 19, for the patent number "l,'(9h,15 6" read l,97li,l56; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same Signed (Seal) may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

and sealed this 2nd day of May, A D, 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

